Not a bad October for CE manufacturers:
CEMA REPORT: Buoyed by single-digit growth in direct-view TV, VCR decks and projection TV, and double-digit surge in camcorder and TV/VCR combo sales, video shipments to dealers topped 5 million in Oct., up 10% from previous year. With 2 months remaining in year, VCR decks, combos, projection TVs and camcorders categories clearly were well on way to records. On other hand, direct-view TV shipments (excluding projection and combos) remained flat despite strong month, off 1.5% from 1996, and 12% below first 10 months of record 1994.
Direct-view TV sales reached 2.4 million in Oct., up 7% from 1996. Seasonally adjusted rate for month was 22.6 million, vs. 22.4 million sold last year. In release accompanying figures, CEMA again touted performance of large-screen sets 30" and up, which are running 10% ahead of 1996 pace.
Combos continued as strongest category overall, up nearly 24% for month and more than 12% for year. Seasonally adjusted rate for month was 2.5 million, well above 2.19 million sold last year and record 2.2 million in 1995.
Camcorders also posted record Oct., up 27% in year. Camcorder seasonal rate for month was 4.4 million, up 20% over record 3.6 million sold last year.
Projection TV topped 100,000 for 2nd straight Oct, rising 6% to record 106,201. Seasonal rate was 915,000 and for first 10 months stood at 956,000, both below one million mark that category had been expected to achieve this year.
DVD players increased 64% over Aug. and Sept. to 56,407, pushing year-to-date shipments to near 270,000. CEMA's figures on sales to dealers in Oct., with 1996 and 1995 comparisons:
Product Oct. 1997 Oct. 1996 % Change Oct. 1995
Total color...... 2,750,049 2,564,810 + 7.2 2,845,466
Direct-view... 2,643,848 2,464,414 + 7.3 2,748,773
TV only...... 2,372,528 2,245,316 + 5.7 2,567,003
TV/VCR combo. 271,320* 219,098 +23.8 181,770
Projection.... 106,201* 100,396 + 5.8 96,693
Total VCR#....... 2,133,043* 1,931,710 +10.4 1,623,340
VCR decks..... 1,861,723* 1,712,612r + 8.7 1,441,570
Camcorders....... 457,563* 360,898 +26.8 343,610
DVD players...... 56,407 NA NA NA
Laserdisc players 4,905 11,254 -56.4 23,193
* Record for any Oct. # Includes TV/VCR combinations.
(r) 1996 VCR data revised for weeks 14-52. |
